Hucks Connection V – Quality Without Question!

September 20th, 2012

by Beth Ellen Hunziker

When an Arabian stallion is as handsome, talented, willing, well trained and well bred as Hucks Connection V, there is little doubt that he will achieve national level success. This versatile show horse has fulfilled every unspoken promise, wish and dream of his owners, breeder and trainer. With two national championships, three national reserve championships and three national top ten titles in four different divisions, Hucks Connection V has proven that he is a world-class athlete. In addition, this overachiever is also convincing breeders that he is a superior sire of exceptional foals and extremely talented offspring. When it comes to Hucks Connection V, we are assured of quality without question!

Long time Arabian horse owners and breeders Jack and Ann Lapointe of Diamond Hill Arabians in Waxhaw, North Carolina are the proud owners of Hucks Connection V. Their daughter Lisa Giovanniello has ridden Hucks Connection V to his championships in English Pleasure AOTR and Park AOTR with the coaching and guidance of award winning trainer Vicki Humphrey. Lisa will be competing with Huck at the new Arabian Horse Celebration show held in Louisville, Kentucky this September 19-22, 2012. Jack and Ann Lapointe, Lisa Giovanniello and Vicki Humphrey all have high hopes for this show. Regardless of the class results, this will be a ride to remember for Lisa and Hucks Connection V - it will be his final show ring competition.

"It's going to be bittersweet," Giovanniello said. "Huck has always been such a willing partner and a total blast to ride. I have the utmost respect for him; he has so much heart, so much power, yet he is so kind. To me, Hucks Connection V is a once in a lifetime horse."

As Hucks Connection V steps out of the show ring and leaves behind the cheering crowds, ribbons and roses, he will immediately step into the spotlight as a sire at the Arabian Horse Celebration Stallion Row where he and his representative offspring will no doubt be the center of attention. Hucks Connection wins admirers everywhere he goes. A person who viewed a video from one of Huck's presentations wrote, "Lovely, lovely horse. My husband gets chills when he listens to Pavarotti sing Nessun Dorma. I get them when I watch Hucks Connection V's 2010 Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show video!"

The Lapointe's goal is to bring Hucks Connection the same critical acclaim as a sire that he has achieved as a show champion. Vicki Humphrey recently made a trip to Diamond Hill Arabians to evaluate the Hucks Connection offspring with the Lapointes. "I was blown away with this year's babies; no doubt this is his best foal crop yet. There are several absolute superstars. We picked a few Huck offspring of different ages to take to the Celebration to represent him on Stallion Row - they are very special and I can't wait for people to see them."

Hucks Connection's ability in the show ring and the breeding barn comes as no surprise to his breeder, Sheila Varian. "Hucks Connections V has a lot to offer: natural athletic ability and his amazing temperament. I continue to use Hucks Connection V in my breeding program. I think he is on his way to making a name for himself as a sire."

If breeders and trainers liked Hucks Connection and his offspring before, wait until they see what's waiting in the wings. Huck has several top contenders heading for the U.S Nationals in Tulsa, Oklahoma in October including Bit Of Connection V, who is out of the Huckleberry Bey daughter Balquenette V. Mary Trowbridge will be in the irons with Bit Of Connection V. This talented team was 2012 Scottsdale Open English Pleasure Reserve Champion and Region XIV Open English Pleasure Reserve Champion. Vicki Humphrey is very excited about her national prospects sired by Hucks Connection V. Vicki's purebred English Pleasure Futurity contender is The Incredible Huck, he is out of Enchantingly Shai, sired by Enchanter Magic FHP and out of a Simeon Shai daughter. Her Half Arabian English Pleasure Futurity contender is Midnight Connection, this horse is out of the Saddlebred mare ­Pure N Simple who carries lines to Will Shriver breeding.

"I am really happy with these two young horses," Humphrey said. "I think we will do well and I think people will be impressed with the quality and talent that Hucks Connection V is producing."

The best way to learn about a horse is to ride him. If you want to know what kind of a sire he is, ride his offspring. Vicki Humphrey has taken Hucks Connection V to three national championship and reserve championship titles in Open English Pleasure and Informal Combination. She can't suppress her enthusiasm for this stallion or his offspring.

"Hucks Connection V is just fantastic; I've never known a horse with his temperament, willing attitude and heart," said Vicki. "From what I have experienced with his babies, he is passing on that same great winning attitude. Huck is also siring exceptional size, well set and upright necks with polls that allow horses to bridle up beautifully, great tail carriage, animation and strong English movement.

"Hucks Connection V has bred some incredible mares including the 2011 U.S. National Champion Country English Pleasure Junior Horse, Princess of Baske, by Baske Afire; her mother, Berry Fancee by Hucklebey Berry and SMS Forever Bay, by MHR Nobility, is the dam of the multi U.S. National Champion English Pleasure, Vegaz, and others. The Lapointes are doing their best to bring Huck great mares and their efforts are really paying off.

"I've noticed that Huck has contributed to or improved on each mare he has been bred to. Always, there is his neck, his carriage and that attitude - he is stamping his babies with great minds and the sweetest dispositions. I believe that's why Huck has become so popular with South African breeders. Many breeders and owners there work and train their own horses - they are very hands on and it's extremely important to them to have horses that are pretty and athletic, but that are also easy to work with. The Hucks Connection babies are all like that - easy, willing, talented and pretty."

Jack Lapointe agrees, "We're very fortunate to have a great horse like Hucks Connection V. He's been a wonderful show horse for our daughter Lisa, and for Vicki too. We're very proud of their accomplishments. I think we got even more than we bargained for with Hucks Connection. We wanted a talented show horse and we got a champion, we hoped he would produce a few nice babies and we got a superstar sire! I can't say we are too surprised considering his great pedigree. The fact that he is such a pleasure to be around is the cherry on top!

"We are all working on bringing the best mares possible to Huck so we can preserve and pass on his wonderful qualities. Each year we have been able to improve his foal crop. In 2012, Diamond Hill Arabians had nine foals by Hucks Connection; five purebred and four half-Arabian foals. Across the board, they are everything we hoped for and more. This year, we sold over 30 breedings to Hucks Connection V to American and international breeders. We also have a very special group of mares in foal to him for our breeding program at Diamond Hill Arabians. It's exciting to think about the mares that were bred to Huck and what their foals might become. I believe they will be beautiful high-stepping show champions and future producers of champions. One thing we know we can count on from Hucks Connection V - there will be quality without question."

What People Are Saying:

"It does not often happen that we see a halter-style horse that performs like a performance horse. Pricilla V (Hucks Connection V x Patience V), owned by Tinus and Francisca Strydom of Strydom Arabian Stud in South Africa, is that special, one-of-a-kind, horse. Pricilla's sire, Hucks Connection V, is known as 'the versatile Arabian' and with her great motion and kind disposition she is surely set to follow in her sire's hoof prints.

"Whether presenting Pricilla V in halter or under saddle, it will be a tall order to beat her in the show ring! Like her sire, her enthusiasm and utter enjoyment make watching her a feast for the eyes. With her progeny set to follow in her footsteps, she represents the complete mare for South African breeders and show horse trainers of distinction." - Leon Botha, Victrio Training, South Africa

"I believe they (Hucks Connection V offspring) will be beautiful high-stepping show champions and future producers of champions. One thing we know we can count on from Hucks Connection V - there will be quality without question!" - Jack Lapointe, Diamond Hill Arabians

"I have the utmost respect for Hucks Connection V; he has so much heart, so much power, yet he is so kind. To me, Hucks Connection V is a once in a lifetime horse!" - Lisa Giovanniello, Diamond Hill Arabians

"Hucks Connections V has a lot to offer: natural athletic ability and his amazing temperament. I continue to use him in my breeding program. I think he is on his way to making a name for himself as a sire." - Sheila Varian, Varian Arabians